Shastri says no fight with Ganguly
NO BAD BLOOD Coach denies he has differences with CAC member, who was the key in appointing Kumble a year ago
Ravi Shastri, a day after being named as the next Team India head coach, announced that individuals don’t matter in his philosophy. The former India captain also added it was time to bury past misunderstandings and make a fresh start. The 55-year-old Shastri was answering to a question on his frosty relationship with Sourav Ganguly, member of Board of Control for Cricket in Indi a’s (BCCI) Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). A year back, Ganguly had rejected Shastri and was the pivotal figure to appoint Anil Kumble as India coach.
But after being named the India coach, with support from captain Virat Kohli, Shastri said it was time to move on. “There will be arguments, but we need to look at the bigger picture. He (Ganguly) asked some very good questions during my interview. We need to move on . Individual don’t matter, and we should all work in the best interest of Indian cricket. It should take the centre-stage,” Shastri said in an interview to India Today.
In fact, after the initial interviews on Monday, Ganguly said that the CAC would name the coach only after discussions with Kohli. There were even reports that Ganguly was not on the same page with others regarding Shastri being the coach. However, late on Tuesday Shastri was confirmed as coach.
Shastri, who was earlier the Team Director of India from 2014 to 2016, said Indian team and Virat Kohli can reach great heights in the next few years.
“I think Virat has not yet reached his peak. The next five to six years will define Virat Kohli. The current Indian team can be No. 1 across all formats. It can be better Test team than any Indian side of the past. It has the skill, the potential. We have a battery of fast bowlers who can take 20 wickets,” he said.
“This is a team you can travel with. There are bowlers who can do well in all conditions. Their age is such that they are playing at the right time.”
Rapport with Zaheer, Dravid While Shastri’s appointment as India coach was anticipated, the real surprise came when BCCI announced as Rahul Dravid as the overseas batting consultant and Zaheer Khan as the bowling coach. Dravid is also the India A and India Under-19 cvach.
Regarding working with Zaheer and Dravid, Shastri said: “Their inputs will be invaluable. In fact when I was the Team Director, I had as the two of them to come and talk to the team ahead of tours. Any good suggestion will be welcome,” he said.
Asked about the challenges of coaching the Indian team, especially after his predecessor and former India skipper Kumble’s one-year stint ended on a sour note amid widespread reports of a tiff with Kohli, Shastri said he is up for the challenge.
“I have always relished a challenge and I am looking forward to my stint with India. When you are asked to open the batting in overcast conditions, it is a challenge.”
“I am used to challenges, bring on another one,” Shastri said.
We need to look at the bigger picture. He (Ganguly) asked good questions during my interview. We need to move on. Virat has not yet reached his peak. The next five to six years will define him. The India team can be No 1 across formats.
I have always relished a challenge. When you are asked to open the batting in overcast conditions, it is a challenge.